Oil, gas industry reviewing governor's tax plan

Louisiana is experiencing economic prosperity at a time when many other states are still recovering from the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Contributing factors for this success can be linked to a business friendly environment and a determined workforce. Several industries in the state are thriving such as oil and gas, manufacturing and the chemical industry. A common thread for these industries' success can be linked to the shale revolution that is positively affecting the entire country.

Numerous multi-billion dollar projects are popping up around the state, largely in part to the abundant natural resources that Louisiana is privileged to have beneath the ground. David Dismukes, a Ph.D. at the Center for Energy Studies at LSU, released a study recently with specific numbers about the future of our state. He said that the "abundance of natural gas resources has led to a virtual manufacturing renaissance in Louisiana where, to date, some $62.3 billion in new capital investments have been announced." Dismukes goes on to say that resulting from the natural gas induced projects, over 214,000 thousand jobs and more than $9 billion in increased wages will likely result over a 9-year period.

Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing to eliminate Louisiana's income and corporate taxes and pay for those cuts with increased sales taxes, the governor's office confirmed recently, thus making his plan revenue neutral for the state. The governor's office has not yet provided further details of the plan. Historically, when a tax is removed, something else must be added or increased to compensate. The current sales tax rate of 4 percent would likely increase along with expanding the number of taxpayers. The oil and gas industry particularly could see an increase in taxes with regard to services.

Also on the table for removal would be tax exemptions. At the moment, there are around 468 tax exemptions, as was recently noted at the Revenue Estimating Conference. The oil and gas industry has around 23 tax exemptions that help create new business for the state, and also retain business that is already deeply rooted in the Louisiana economy.

Each of those oil and gas exemptions is vitally important to the health of the industry. However, the Jindal administration has tasked the oil and gas industry with outlining the importance of all 23 exemptions, while highlighting the specific exemptions that the industry must retain in order to operate in Louisiana.

Thus far, states around the country that do not have a state income tax are experiencing economic prosperity. While Louisiana is already feeling economic success, it will be vitally important that the appropriate tax exemptions and incentives are kept to ensure a flourishing future for the days ahead.

To guarantee a healthy environment, specifically for the oil and gas industry, the old theory of "fixing something that is not broken" will have to be thoroughly examined. Many opinions exist about this new tax proposal from the governor, but thankfully all parties agree that for a lucrative business environment to endure, Louisiana must remain competitive with other energy producing states.

Don Briggs is president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. His column is published every other Thursday.

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Oil, gas industry reviewing governor's tax plan

Louisiana is experiencing economic prosperity at a time when many other states are still recovering from the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Contributing factors for this success can be